Friends and Gifts and my Winnings Arrived!

What better gift than that of friendship!
We were blessed yesterday to be with our dearest friends – the one’s
I mentioned in my previous post.
Even though we are a world apart in distance we pick up right were
we left off with lots of fun and laughing….and reminiscing about
our younger years and hopes for our future.
Bill and Linda have been mentioned in my Blog more times than anyone else…what can I say. I love them to pieces. Linda is our vibrant, fun,
intelligent leader and Bill is like our brother…he’s also intelligent,
fun and oh the protector.
Isn’t life grand when you have such wonderful friends in your life?

They arrived at our house at one yesterday afternoon – we talked, laughed, ate and ate some more and then went out to dinner – more food!
Our evening ended at 9:30 and off to bed we went,
1:30 would come awfully early.
So here we are sleepy eyed and puffy faced at 2:00 a.m.
Well, I guess I should talk about just myself…I’m puffy faced!
Linda HAD TO HAVE HER COFFEE NO MATTER WHAT SO THAT WAS
ALL DONE BREWING BEFORE SHE HIT THE BOTTOM STEP!


I couldn’t love Billy more! Guess I should have combed my hair!!!
Please pray they sell their home soon so they can head back
to the States…we miss them so much.

Soooo, on to my gorgeous winnings…it came!
I don’t know what I was more anxious about…the package that
came yesterday or Bill and Linda’s arrival.
My winnings from Katherine at http://oldbranchhollow.blogspot.com/ are so wonderful – you just should see this bunny up close…he’s adorable and his outfit is made of blue wool felt and grunged lightly…LOVING IT!
And just look at that darling journal/note book….it has the parchment paper inside too!  Oh, and the eggs in the basket….the colors here don’t show up well but they are sooooo pretty.
Thank you so much Katherine.

And finally….I set out my Yellow Ware Eggs…not where I thought they’d go but after looking at the table throw I saw a match here….the woven fabric is deep golden yellow and black…so I just put the eggs in the goose bowl…and I like it…very simple and not overdone…. I like the simple look anyway….do you like it or should I have put them in a different setting?

I just have to say how happy I am that the forum I belong to has now started a published, printed magazine to come out in August…called
A PRIMITIVE PLACE
Go to this link to read all about it – I’m so anxious to see
what the cover will be - Margo Gracia of Circa 1892 Homestead Primitives
(  http://www.picturetrail.com/1892homesteadprimitives  )
will be taking photos for all the covers…how wonderful is that?

I hope you all will go and subscribe to a subscription
http://www.aprimitiveplace.org/APP-Magazine.html
Kristine is dedicated to giving us all a refreshing new magazine.
Congratulations to everyone involved – you are all awesome team members.
And I just found out today that one of our bloggers Dan…
from http://dan-yesterdayoncemore.blogspot.com
is joining the staff. CONGRATULATIONS Dan and Good Luck.

I know there’s more but I can’t think straight…up too
early – eyes are burning and red!
I’m not 25 anymore – can’t keep those hours.
Gosh, I’m not even 50 anymore…those days are GONE!

Have a great week and see ya back here later.
Hugs, Karen

[ Read More ]

SNIPPETS

Everything is happening so fast!    

Ever feel like this?

Or this?
Piles are looming.............landscape designs.............interior designs............phone calls..... a gazillion details.......time wasted searching for things;  keys, cell phone, files....... And I miss reading my favorite blogs and commenting.

I WILL get out there.............it will all come together................it always does

This week we are partnering with NEST candles in promoting Autism Speaks. And April is Autism Awarness month.
Laura Slatkin, creator of NEST candles has an autistic child and Laura has developed  the 'Blue Garden' fragrance, a refreshing burst of spring with scents of Blue Hydrangea, Hyacinth and Forget-me-nots with fresh green notes. BUT...........100% of the proceeds goes to Autism Speaks!

Join us in the launch April 1st and April 2nd at the shop. Refreshments, extended hours (until 7pm) and Scentimental Gardens will be donating 10% of our sales to Autism research.

Some of the aforementioned plate spinning is of my own doing.
But I am excited to share some news........we are opening our third shop in Chicago. Preparations are fast underway and there IS SO MUCH TO DO as we hope to open in May! But until further updates save June 18th for our grand opening party......and I cannot wait to reveal who our special guests are once all the details are finalized.

Opening at the same time, next door, will be my good friend Julia Edelmann of Buckingham I.D. and the Chicago blogger of Material Girls.................Oh do we have plans!

Then it is off next week on an antique buying jaunt, one of life's little pleasures. Birmingham, Knoxville, Atlanta and Louisville.

This time will be different...........the newly retired Steve will be the driver/co-shopper.
Some of our conversations;

Me;   "If I need a bathroom break will you stop?"
Him;  "Of course, I am retired now!"
Me;   sigh.........

Him  "I will help you buy"
Me:  "Ok, so....you will learn about antiques?"
Hin:  "No, I will watch what you are spending".
Me   SIGH..........

Sister used to join me on these trips, but as you can see she is busy. Busy with new friends, such as Art Smith. Sound familiar? That is the newly svelte Art of Oprah's personal chef fame. But if in town, his restaurant 'Table 52' is a must!

Happy Easter!
Debra

[ Read More ]

How to Make Organic Soap Using Soapwort

There are a number of great concoctions for using soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), and you can find many recipes on the web. When I was in college, my Godmother shared her recipe with me. She lived in California and kept lots of herbs on her property. She used her soapwort liquid soap solution to clean her lace tablecloths and lace curtains, much the way her mother had done before her.

[ Read More ]

Growing Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)

Growing soapwort may be a very nice way for you to incorporate some eco-friendly cleaning practices into your household chores while inviting an attractive and low-maintenance plant to your herb patch. When you press this useful herb into service as a mild detergent to clean your lace tablecloths, wool and silk, it's an economical choice too.

Back before phosphates, people used this nifty

[ Read More ]

Seeing Red….but I’m not angry! Winning!

This post will have a few little things and pictures. I have the last of my COLOR pictures that I thought I’d post….they have been in a folder on my computer desktop and I keep looking at it and decided to get it over with – I know it’s close to my last ‘color’ post but I wanted to put the file away.

First though - I WON A GIVE A-WAY over at http://oldbranchhollow.blogspot.com/
Katherine had the most wonderful offerings and now
they are heading to my home!
Aren’t these just the best????  Look, there’s a ‘K’ on the journal! Who knew!
THANK YOU KATHERINE – I’m anxiously awaiting my treasures.
 

On Thursday our best friends, Bill and Linda, who live on the island of St. Kitts flew home for the funeral of her father so we attended as well and were happy to be able to spend some time with them and her family. The funeral was in IL so it was a full day of it and regardless of the sad happening we all had a wonderful visit. Many of her relatives attended…some we have met before some new to us.
They’re coming to our house on Monday sometime and staying overnight and on Tuesday we’ll take them to Chicago O’Hare so they can fly back home.
We’ll miss them terribly. We don’t get to visit as often as we did when they lived 3 hours away from us here in Wisconsin.
But good news….they have their island home up for sale and are anxiously awaiting the sale so they can come back to the states….they’ll relocate in Raleigh, NC near her sister but that’s okay…it’s a beautiful place to live and visit. Good for all involved.  We couldn’t be happier for the news!
Pictures were taken and hopefully I will have one of the 4 of us soon to post.
 
The kids in the picture with them (I tried to put a box around Bill and Linda) are the kids from the Children’s Home which is a huge passion of theirs from the moment they arrived on the island – I’m sure of all the things they will miss by being away from St. Kitts it will be their kids….it has been their passion for the past 10 years…and the kids love them just as much.

 

Well, that ‘Seeing Red’ thing I mentioned…here goes….and yes, it will be the last of my ‘color’ photos….not much left in my house to take pictures of unless we start  some new textures like…
dust bunnies and fairy lace…of those I have a few too many!

 

Remember last week we went to Columbus, OH buying well one of the vendors ‘Doug Musser’ had a gorgeous mustard cupboard that I was going to buy for my den…As I’m getting my money out to pay for my huge bag of ‘pods’ (I showed you in the last post) and the cupboard…guess what? The lady ahead of me was buying it!  Talk about a let down! Here’s the cupboard…hopefully we can get it yet at his shop in Indiana in a few months.

Hope you enjoyed my post today – The next few days will be getting ready for company and then enjoying that company and then it’s off to Chicago on Tuesday and then Wednesday we have another funeral to attend. One of my first cousins passed away today from cancer – she was only 62.

Enjoy and see you all on Thursday
Karen

[ Read More ]

MY HUSBAND........CAN NOW BE YOURS!

Yes!!  You read that correctly........he is now on the market!

Corporate by day...........master carpenter........ as time allowed.

BUT, I have been terribly selfish..........terribly


The vast majority of his craft has been for me and my ever expanding list

Why the sudden change of heart?       Corporate just said "Thank you for your decades of service."

Translate...................(we can get someone younger and cheaper)

My suggestions were not embraced.  He could learn to COOK

Take over the duty of DISH WASHING...........as you can read , MOST DO!

For long time readers, you know my love of bagpipes........he could become a PIPER!!

Well, since all my suggestions have been refuted, there must be something else..................

Something, he must do something before I run. Shades of "what is for breakfast?" and "where are you going?" are whispered.

So girls............here is your chance!!!!    Remember those past posts, the one's that showed his handy work and all of you that wrote saying "I sure wish I had a Steve in my life!"

Let's review his projects with minimum commentary and "impartial" enthusiasm

Remember this? He designed and built the stove surround

I love it, looks appropriately old...........this is an 1850's cottage

Another kitchen shot. Totally designed and built by Steve; cabinets, ceiling, opening you see to the foyer which was not there before.

Master Bedroom. Sure wish I had the "before". This entire wall was a fireplace with sheets of plywood on either side with finger holes to slide back and forth to enter the closet. Again the ceiling and he stripped the floors. Can you imagine that at one point someone glued linoleum to these floors?

Den;  Was previously a gut wrenching wallpaper of powder blue and peach (remember those days?). Steve removed the powder blue wall to wall cheap carpeting, the ceilings including rescued barn beams, he added the high shelf and I hired for the wallpaper; Brunschwig & Fils 'On Pointe'.

Having always heard "couples that hang wallpaper together go to court together." 

Then I NEEDED a barn...........no animals, yet...........but a place to house my landscape equipment, projects and antiques for the shop.              sorry.....ugly Illinois in March photo's.

All built by hand, Steve did everything including electrical and plumbing, everything....well almost......the concrete floor was contracted.

Cupolas are a favorite architectural element. Stand back and look at your home..........could a cupola enhance it? Give it presence? If you opt to go in that direction error on the side of larger than too small.

Of course a pass through was needed to get from the pool to the pond. This year he added lights up inside the peak that reflect down and sets off a warm glow. Oh, and take a peak at the double decker birdhouse.....who else?

Many of you have seen this photo here before, but in case you have not...........feast your eyes on the powder blue aluminum siding, dirty awning and negligent landscaping. This photo is from the day of purchase.

Siding and awning off. Overhangs built over the doors. Thick white molding around the windows and at the corners.................

The pool house had to match, here you can get a better view of the white molding trim earlier referenced. New door in high gloss black, three dimensional dog head sprayed in high gloss black.

Wait, I just remembered.........I need shutters on the house in high gloss black, the real kind that open and close, with shutter dogs!

A lamp post

And........once in a great while.........time to do a project for a client. This is one of our treasured landscape clients. For Sharon a contemporary pergola was designed and crafted by Steve

Go for it Steve! You have supported my passions, now it is your turn!
xxo
Debra

[ Read More ]